Dunchurch Pools Marina (Oxford Canal) – Monday 12th August
We are finally back on Mary H. We have had a very busy six months with having a 10 week holiday in New Zealand, Tasmania, Sydney and a few days in San Francisco. We have also bought a motorhome and have a new addition to our family.
Sadly, we had to put Muffin to sleep back in September. We had noticed he was slowing down but thought it was just his age. Finally, he couldn’t walk properly and after a short stay in a marvellous animal hospital in the New Forest we took the decision to send him on his way over the rainbow bridge. He had leukaemia and lymphoma. We were devastated especially as it was so quick. We went through many months of should we or shouldn’t we get another dog. We loved Muffin to pieces, but his separation anxiety was through the roof, and he did make our lives quite difficult. I was really worried that it would happen again so was quite dubious about getting another dog. However, when we got back from our holiday, we started looking for a Cavapoo puppy. We didn’t want another Cockapoo and had decided that a Cavapoo fitted the bill nicely. We found a breeder over in Hastings who had a litter of black and white puppies and went over for a look. I fell in love with “blue collar” and we paid the deposit there and then. He was only 3 weeks old and looked more like a guinea pig than a puppy! We already had a name for him, Oreo, but we call him Rio. We made another visit at 6 weeks old and finally picked him up at 8 weeks. From the word go he was so good. The breeder told us to let him sleep in a crate as far away from us as possible! We used the utility room and had a webcam in there. We put him to bed about 10pm and I watched him on the camera for about an hour. He whined for 10 minutes then just slept until I went in to him at 7.15am. Checking back on the webcam he had woken up at 6am, gave a couple of barks then went back to sleep. We did the same the next night but there was no barking at bedtime just at 6am. The third night there was nothing and it has been the same ever since. Potty training was a bit hit and miss but we finally got there about 4 weeks ago.
The motorhome was an impulse buy! We had spent 6 weeks of our 10 week holiday earlier this year in a motorhome in New Zealand and loved it. We made a wish list and then filed it! On our way back from our first visit to see Rio, we noticed a motorhome place and pulled in. We told the sales director what we were looking for and he said he thought he had just the thing. We walked into it and that was it. It had everything we wanted (except a microwave!!) and was the right layout. It just felt right. We didn’t put a deposit on it there and then but did 4 days later!
So, here we are, back on Mary H with a 20 week old puppy. Goodness knows how it is going to work, but Muffin was 16 weeks when he first came on the boat and was an excellent boaters’ dog.
Our drive up to Dunchurch was pretty horrid. It was the hottest day of the year, and it took us 4¼ hours to do a 3 hour journey. Rio was very good and, with a couple of stops, just took it all in his stride. It was pretty exhausting unloading the car in the heat and then unpacking. The temperature seemed to drop when the sun set, and our cabin wasn’t too hot at night at all.
I will add here that Richard had been up to Mary H twice recently, once for a week with his son and once for a week with his brother. I was home alone puppysitting!
Hardgreaves Bridge - No 99 (Oxford Canal) – Tuesday 13th August
Last night Rio just accepted his new surroundings and slept in his crate. I had wondered if he might give a little cry, but all was quiet.
We keep finding that Rio is doing the same things that Muffin did! I wonder if Muffin is directing Rio from his heavenly home.
We had a huge Sainsbury’s delivery which we managed to find homes for and then it was last minute tidying and sorting before setting off.
So, where are we off too? Well, we are off to the Thames, one of our favourite waterways. On Thursday we will meet up with Steve and Tracey on Over the Moon, who we cruised with last year after our BCN rally. They moor on the South Stratford and will already have done 28 miles and 63 locks when we meet up with them. We have the grand total of 8 miles and zero locks to do!
The big moment arrived. What would Rio think of the deep throbbing engine? He didn’t bat an eyelid!! Out of the marina and he still couldn’t have cared less. I took him up onto the deck, put his bed on the roof and put him in. He loved it. He put his chin up and took full advantage of the breeze as it was a hot day. He looked around and then bravely stood up and walked as far as his rope would let him. We are going to try and train him to be up on the roof when we do locks. Muffin was always chief lock keeper and would cross the gates and wander around without a care in the world but Richard was always worried about him - I trusted him! However, Rio is very small and not as worldly wide as Muffin so his place will be on the roof - we hope!
We came across a field of cows - Rio hadn’t seen cows before and barked his head off. The cows just looked at him and carried on eating.
We had just passed Braunston when I got a message from Steve to say that they were at Calcutt Locks and would meet us today. We pulled in just before Bridge 99 where there was some shade and waited for Over the Moon. Before long we heard a hooter and OtM was coming under the bridge. It was lovely to see them again. Ted seemed to recognise us but sadly Maggie had gone over the rainbow bridge earlier in the year. Tracey was worried about Ted with Rio and he doesn’t like puppies and “in your face” dogs. However, they just hit it off and played and rushed around for about 4 to 5 hours. Ted is 11 and a little pudgy but he kept up with Rio and should probably lose some weight while we are away!
We sat out on the towpath until about 9pm, putting away a couple (yeah right!) of bottles of wine! We hadn’t eaten but I had planned a stir fry which was ready in no time.
4 miles
0 locks
Priors Hardwick Bridge - No 123 (Oxford Canal) – Wednesday 14th August
After a few hot days we were back to this year’s summer. Grey and dank. August? I don’t think so.
We had planned to leave at 10am and Steve did but he had to turn around first. Soon we were both underway. Rio was still exhausted from last night and chose to sleep on the armchair. We are so used to Muffin being hyperactive and always up on deck, just waiting for the change in speed which normally meant we were going to stop and he could jump ashore. Rio is much more laid back - but maybe that will change when he gets older.
We arrived at Napton Locks for Rio to do his first locks. As we went into the first one, he looked around a little startled as we suddenly had high walls either side of us. However he soon realised that all was OK and we weren’t descending into the bowels of the earth!
I am suffering with a bad back yet again this year so Richard is having to do all the locks. I do actually enjoy doing the locks but I daren’t push my back too far.
There are 9 locks in the Napton flight, well there are actually 7 with the top two being the Marston Doles locks, but usually they all get bundled together.
We started the day with pleasant weather but after a few locks the grey descended, the mist came in and the drizzle started. It wasn’t too heavy but wasn’t very pleasant. It continued grey and ‘orrid for the rest of the day.
At the end of the Engine Arm we came across Travels with Tea (not surprising really as they moor there!) We have known Jem and Trish for 8 years and keep bumping into them all over the place - not necessarily on the canals! We pulled over and had a chat with them before continuing on our way.
Two more locks and then the nasty 90 degree turn which is just as you come out of the lock. The top pound is rather low and we tried to stop a couple of times but were thwarted by the depth (or lack of it). We eventually found a nice stop and moored up. Out came the chairs onto the towpath but it didn’t last long as the drizzle started and stayed for the rest of the evening.
9 miles
9 locks
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